Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Deep Water Cay: The Best Secret Sanctuary to Go Diving in the Bahamas

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I’ve been bragging about the diving in the Bahamas to SVV for years. Though I had already been diving for a year without being certified (oops), he and I got our open water certification at the same time back in 2008; only, he did his checkout dives in Monterey while I flew to meet Angie in Abaco. But until our trip to Deep Water Cay, we’d never gone diving in the Bahamas together.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

The waters of the Out Islands are some of the most thriving, pristine marine turf I’ve ever explored, and I’ve now been diving in more than 30 countries and Caribbean isles. To say I was excited to get back out to neighboring terrain and submerge is an understatement; it had been since 2010, after all, when I’d last stepped foot in this Atlantic island nation.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

As a fishing resort, Deep Water Cay is not known specifically as a diving destination, but a change in ownership and a serious dedication to renovating the private island resort means that they have also started ramping up their other offerings. While it will always first and foremost be a haven for bonefish lovers, Deep Water Cay now has plenty of other offerings for those (like me) who aren’t really the angling type. And let’s be honest: Diving in the Bahamas is dreamy no matter where you choose.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

The thing about diving in the Bahamas, though, is you are fully dependent on Mother Nature. And she’s often a tempestuous, angry sort of force to reckon with. On our week-long trip to the Bahamas in October, we were blessed with sunny days and perfect temps, but the winds were downright pissy. We were supposed to dive on our first full day there, but that was quickly canceled when we saw the weather report.

But no bother, we were on island time. We could always save it for another day.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

We tentatively scheduled our two-tank dive for the next morning, Sunday, but even that wasn’t looking good, according to our divemaster Phillip. Still, our days were running out given that you aren’t allowed to dive within 24 hours of taking a flight and we were scheduled to hop a charter plane on Tuesday.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

We would go diving in the Bahamas that day, come Hell or high water.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com
Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

The water was a perfect 78 degrees, but I shimmied into a full wetsuit nonetheless—fire coral three times in one year does a cautious diver make—and hopped in, with my husband alongside me to protect against any sea monsters and jellyfish.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com
Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

I had really hoped to see sharks—I know, who have I become?—as nurses and reefs often prowl these waters. Alas, on that particular day we didn’t encounter much big life, though we did spot a couple of massive sting rays!
Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

This area of the Bahamas, specifically, is known for its blue holes, cavernous black openings that seem to descend into the earth, and swim-throughs, and SVV and I had a blast playing cat-and-mouse in this underwater playground.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

We were even surrounded by thousands of silver-sides as we floated through the openings.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

So many fish, as far as the eye could sea see.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Some might call this a nightmare; I call it a dream come true!

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com
Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com
Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Schools of silversides in Deep Water Cay. This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Our second Deep Water Cay dive was a more mellow descent and marine life was a bit more scattered than the first dip.

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

No sharks here! 🙁

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Still, sharks or no sharks, it was still the perfect day. Any chance I get to spend underwater with this guy is a good afternoon indeed!
Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com
Deep Water Cay: This fishing resort may just be the Bahamas' best kept dive secret. | CamelsAndChocolate.com

Have you ever gone diving in the Bahamas? Did the underwater landscape surprise and delight you?

This post was last updated in November 2019.

 

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Diving in the Bahamas at Deep Water Cay

COMMENTS
  • December 7, 2015

    Gorgeous pics! Makes me miss diving SO much!!!

    • December 8, 2015

      Any plans to dive in 2016? I bet Joaquin will get certified by the age of 12 😉

  • December 7, 2015

    That looks like such a gorgeous place to dive! I can’t wait to renew my PADI Open Water. I haven’t been diving for 5 years, but all your diving posts and beautiful pictures give me an itch 🙂

    • December 8, 2015

      You don’t even have to renew it! It’s good for life. Though you can do a couple hour refresher if you’re feeling nervous =)

  • December 10, 2015

    I love the photos covered in tiny fishes! How magical to end up in the middle of a school like that. Looks like a lovely place to dive.

    • January 3, 2016

      It really is! We didn’t see many big fish, but that’s OK with me. I often like the macro life better anyway =)

  • September 13, 2016

    A dream world in the sea…
    great pic.

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